Health by dratiffarid

Malaria is a parasitic infection whose symptoms include fever, chills and sweating that recur every 2-3 days. The disease is transmitted by Anopheles mosquito.

The first case of locally contracted malaria on Long Island was in 1999 when two 11 year old boys caught the disease from mosquitoes while at a summer camp in Calverton. They had stayed at the Baiting Hollow Boy Scout Camp from 1-7 August 1999.

It is extremely rare for malaria to be contracted within the US. But it has been on an increase due to ‘Airport’ malaria.

 What is ‘Airport’ malaria? It is transmitted when a mosquito infected with the disease bites a human within a kilometer of an international airport.

 The two important factors to keep in mind are:

#1 Increasing international travel

#2 Climate pattern changes

The above reasons have led the US to be a more stable ecosystem for disease carrying insects.

Warmed climate changes in major US cities with a large presence of international air traffic, such as New York, seem to have created a favorable environment where these infected mosquitoes can survive.

It starts with a mosquito that is transported during an international flight from a malaria-endemic region. Once the infected female mosquito leaves the aircraft, it can survive long enough to seek blood meals ad transmit the disease to other humans within the airport.

Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of patients with malaria and draining stagnant water bodies are the only ways out.

Fruits are an important part of a balanced diet.

I remember my mother saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I agreed with what she said and would eat an apple almost everyday when I was young. It became an addiction for me and I had labeled it as my favorite fruit.

Then few years back, I had to move on to another country for further education and was all by myself.

I did remember what my mother said about apples but I was lazy to go and buy them from the supermarket.

So, I started research on the topic and now I’m convinced that what my mother had said was right.

Apples are widely cultivated tree fruits. The US is the second largest producer of apples in the world (behind China).

Apples contain Vitamin C and phenols. Vitamin C aids the immune system and phenols help in lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

They also reduce risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Apples reduce tooth decay by cleaning one’s teeth and killing off bacteria.

Apples and other fruits are very nutritive and have low fat and low calorie content. So, they are ideal for losing weight.

They also have a lot of fiber which help in digestion. They help relieve constipation. Also apple contains pectin which firms up an excessively loose stool. So, it is used to manage diarrhea as well.

A study in the UK proved that drinking apple juice reduced the risk of kidney stones.

There are lots of studies on benefits of apples that are being conducted. Some of them suggest the following that apples are useful for asthmatics, preventing pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, apple peel provide protection from ultraviolet rays etc. But none of them have been proved and research is still on.

After completing my research on apples, I’m thoroughly convinced that “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” So I’m heading off to the supermarket to buy some apples.